UPA Conference
Bringing Usability to Life
June 8-12
Portland, OR
IEEE PCS Conference
July 19-22
Honolulu, HI
SIGDOC Conference
October 5-7
Bloomington, IN
Cybex International, Inc, in Owatonna, MN, is featured in National Geographic's video Factory Floor. Ellen Lewis is a technical writer for Cybex.
Dr. Lee Tesdell's blog about his Fulbright research scholarship titled "Mankato to Jerusalem and back."
9 February 2009
Tom Johnson
Quick Reference Guide Formats - Tips for Finding Attractive Layouts
31 December 2008
Medieval help desk (with English subtitiles)
Did you know; Shift Happens – Globalization
Did you know? Shift Happens – 2008 Surprise Ending
in the June 2009 issue of IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication.
Dr. Wanda Worley, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, and Dr. Lee Tesdell, Minnesota State Mankato, have collaborated on "Instructor Time and Effort in Online and Face-to-Face Teaching: Lessons Learned," published in the June 2009 issue of IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication.
The authors logged and categorized their time spent in teaching online versus face-to-face sections of Written Communication in Science & Industry (TCM 320) and Technical Communication (Eng 271). They found that they spent about 20% more time per student in the online sections.
Worley and Tesdell compare their results to those found in previous studies and suggest a number of topics for future research.
Thursday, June 11, Vanda Heuring presented research she conducted for her alternate plan paper: "Functionality, Need and Application of Self-Developed Product Development Software: A Case Study at Nova-Tech Engineering, LLC." Vanda's research included a review of the literature on project management tools used within R&D organizations and usability testing of a in-house application that Nova-Tech developed. For further information or for access to the online presentation, please contact Dr. Roland Nord.
by Katie Tormala
For the past six years, students in the technical communication certificate and degree programs have been able to complete their certificate and degree requirement entirely through online study. During that time, the program has grown significantly, attracting 100% online learners from more than 20 states, many of whom are experienced technical communicators. More recently, the program has gone international, attracting 100% online learners from around the world. Two of these learners are Samir Gaonkar and P.J. Cook.
Samir Gaonkar
Samir is a manager in information development at Symantec Software India Pvt. Ltd in Pune, India. He earned a bachelor of engineering degree from the Government College of Engineering in India. Samir decided to pursue a master’s degree in technical communication because, “I was getting the feeling of stagnation.” He sought out programs offered online because Indian universities do not offer graduate programs in technical communication.
Like many people who enter the program, Samir found the program online. “I had an initial discussion with Dr. Nord after which things fell in place. He was instrumental in sorting out the various procedural issues that I faced, and even with the short time that I had at my disposal, I was able to start my classes on time. Dr. Stoynoff and various other folks also helped iron out a few admission-related creases,” Samir said. Some of the challenges he has faced and overcome include early class times (5:30 am to 6:30 am), ordering books for classes, internet speeds that are slower in India than the US, expenses, and a few administration hiccups that affect international students.
Samir started the program in spring 2009 and has taken two courses at MSU. He is quick to mention that “There have been stimulating discussions over chat and email, and I have benefited immensely from their (both teachers and students) knowledge and experience. Most of the students are from diverse fields and bring with them information and perspectives which I wouldn’t have been privy to.” In addition, he has noted major differences in teaching styles between faculty in India and the US, and he has been especially pleased with the emphasis on research in his technical communication courses.
In closing, Samir says, “Boy, am I glad I joined this course? You bet!”
P.J. Cook
P.J. teaches English in Feng Yuan, Taiwan. He holds an associate’s degree from Ricks College (BYU, Idaho) and a bachelor’s degree from BYU, Hawaii.
“I chose MSU because I felt they had a strong technical communication program. It was offered online and it was an appealing program from a financial point of view,” said P.J. He also commented that Dr. Roland Nord was also instrumental in helping him choose MSU, stating that Dr. Nord was very patient and understanding when he had numerous questions.
P.J. started the program in spring 2009 and says, “I have taken two classes so far and all I can say is that the MSU technical communication program is OUTSTANDING! I love it and I am having a ball! I get to meet great people, share ideas about technical communication, and I am learning how to develop my skills as a technical communicator. I think the professors are great and what they have to offer future technical communicators is a wealth of knowledge.”
On Saturday, April 18, at 9:00 am (CDST), the MSU Chapter of the Society for Technical Communication hosted International Technical Communication, including presentations by
Check the STC website for links to pdfs of the presentations.
The Technical Editing SIG is offering two $2,000 scholarships; one for undergraduate students and one for graduate students pursuing a degree in technical communication. The scholarship deadline is May 1, 2009 and winners will be notified mid-June. For more information about the scholarship, including information on how to apply, visit the STC Technical Editing SIG website.
On April 9, The MSU Chapter of STC hosted Alumni Night online, inviting three technical communication graduates back to talk about their academic and work experience. Presenters were
Following each presentation, audience members had a chance to ask questions. View PDF versions of their presentations and handouts on the STC website.
All coursework necessary for completing degrees or certificates in technical communication is now offered online. The MA and the graduate and undergraduate certificate programs can be completed within a two-year cycle of courses.
Non-resident students completing all of their coursework online can apply for market rate tuition—basically in-state (undergraduate/graduate) tuition—by completing the 100% online learner (undergraduate/graduate) form.
We are offering the following online courses Summer 2009:
We are offering the following online courses Fall 2009:
For more information about online courses, certificates, or degrees, contact Dr. Roland Nord.
